Sevoflurane

Sevoflurane is an ether inhalation anesthetic agent used to induce and maintain general anesthesia. It is a volatile, non-flammable compound with a low solubility profile and blood/gas partition coefficient. Sevoflurane was patented in 1972, was approved for clinical use in Japan in 1990, and approved by the FDA in 1996. Sevoflurane is three times more potent than desflurane, but has lower potency compared to halothane and isoflurane. Unlike other volatile anesthetics, sevoflurane has a pleasant odor and does not irritate the airway. The hemodynamic and respiratory depressive effects of sevoflurane are well tolerated, and most patients receiving this anesthetic agent present little toxicity. Therefore, it can be used for inhalational induction in adults and children for a wide variety of anesthetic procedures.